DVR Owners Watch Less TV -- Well, Sort Of -- Okay, Not Really

from the tripping-over-the-numbers dept

Last Fall, TV networks moved to assure advertisers that DVRs weren't the death knell of advertising, as among other things, DVR owners watched more TV than people without the devices. Now, a new study apparently indicates the opposite -- that DVR owners watch less TV. Well, sort of, anyway: all the study seems to show is that DVR owners are less likely than non-owners to watch 45 hours or more of TV in a week. Furthermore, the study is reliant on interviews, with a good chance people underreported how much TV they actually watch. After all, nobody really wants to own up to watching that Buffy The Vampire Slayer marathon one day last week, followed by hour upon hour of Baywatch reruns. The networks say their research backs up their original claim that DVR owners do indeed watch less TV overall, something this new study -- or at least its press release -- doesn't cover. But "DVR owners less likely to watch more than 44.5 hours of TV per week than non-DVR owners" doesn't make for the juiciest lead, does it?

Weird

Always On

I have found that I watch more TV programs, however with the DRV we can watch more in less time. We pick up shows that we wouldn't normally watch, but with the fast foward we skip on all those ads for stuff no one really buys anyway. So in short, more programing in less time. Which may indeed be less TV.

What commercials?

I barely watch TV and when I do I mostly watch recorded programming on my DVR. I skip all commercials, I really dont pay attention to them, and I don't care about them. If I want something I research on the web. Commercials push a product that I do not need or want.

I pay for the damn DVR service, I pay for the dish service, so why are the networks bitching about? I pay for the convenience already. I do not need to watch commercials.

What Advertisers should focus on

Consumers are getting more and more control over the advertisements that they are exposed to (i.e. do not call list, spam blockers, TIVO) so advertisers need to be proactive and create content that people want to see. Superbowl commercials are an example of how consumers actively seek out ads. The next step is to make sure the brand sticks in the consumer's head given this limited exposure. TV should not waste time convincing advertisers that people do watch commercials, they should convince advertisers to create commercials that people want to watch!

Dewey beats Truman

DVRs are owned by people who: (1) can afford them and (2) value their own time highly enough to spend money to get some flexibility.

Anyone watching forty five hours of television a week (6.5 hours per day) is not high income and obviously puts a very low value on their own time.

Faulty surveys with build in biases lead to wrong results - as in the famous "Dewey beats Truman" example.

I own a DVR, I watch about four hours of television a week but the DVR has not reduced the amount of TV I watch - it has probably slightly increased it. I use the DVR when I expect that my kids are going to interrupt me during a program I want to watch.

Re: Dewey beats Truman

sure, it's 6.5 hours in 7 days. people only work 5, so they can make it up on their days off. I work 40 hours a week, drive an aditional 10, do housework, and still manage to get in a good 40 hours tv time. as well as do other things. i keep myself busy, i multitask. when i'm watching CSI, i'm also doing laundry, cooking, cleaning....so there.

and you don't have to be super rich to own a dvr. just about any tech savy teenager could build a great dvr computer for about 400 bucks. or hell, upgrade their existing comp for like 100-150 (cost of tv card and harddrive)

More is Less

I'm relatively new to the DVR thing, only had one for about 5 months now. Still not used to being able to fast-forward through commercials yet, so more often than not will sit through 4-5 of them before it hits me that I CAN fast-forward and by then my recorded program is showing again.

I watch less TV now for the reasons listed above, and the fact that I now plan ahead what I will watch a bit better. DVR has allowed me to better manage my leisure time both around TV viewing and other projects.

DVR

DVR.....Good

I don't know what I did before the DVR. I would much rather watch a show via DVR than live. When I do finally sit down for the evening, I will try and watch something I have already recorded. If I don't have anything recorded and there one of my shows is currently recording, I'll go do something until it's finished and watch it later.

I've also started to record shows that I haven't watched because it came on as other shows I record.

I fast forward through 90% of the commercials. If networks are worried about us skipping adds, make commercials that will catch your eye in fast forward to make you stop and go back. I've done that before. Otherwise, use product placement.

Advertisers should stop listening to TV execs, because TV execs are losing power fast -- Advertising is in the midst of a revolution and needs to adapt.

Every household will use DVRs differently, but everyhouse hold will have one, just like every other good piece of technology.

My kids (12, 9, and 5) are figuring out that Tivo lets 3 of them share 1 TV, they are already skipping commercials whenever possible. They are growing up expecting efficient technology.

Regardless of how you use a DVR, in a few years we won't know how we lived without them.

Expect advertisers to sneak into the programs you are watching more than ever, maybe even start their own networks. When the easiest way to advertise your product is to make sure characters in your favorite shows are seen using them, the balance of power shifts out of the TV execs hands, and into the hands of the producers.

What we miss...

My wife and I found the only thing we really miss about commercials are knowing about movies. We are completely in the dark as we never see any commercials. Not a bad thing, as we usually rent DVD's, but we don't know when to check for cool new releases.

Brighthouse cable in Florida doesnt charge anything extra for their DVR boxes. If you purchase digital cable, you get the box free. I pay 88.89 a month for digital cable + high speed internet. Commercials are DEAD to me!

Re: Re: What Advertisers should focus on

Re: Re: What Advertisers should focus on

they already do that and its stupid because there isnt a person on earth who doesnt know what viagra is, so they dont need to hear about it in their emails. If they wanted it, they could go to their doctor and get it.

I heart my DVR

Faulty polling

This poll is so obviously flawed. In fact, this TYPE of poll is obviously flawed.

Serious couch potatoes are never going to be included in ANY poll or study.

They're spending too much time watching TV, and not picking up the phone to talk to a pollster, checking snail-mail to fill out a survey, or logging onto the Internet to do anything. They're just digging their paws into the bowl of Cheetos in front of them and nudging their fat elbows at the person next to them on the couch and saying, "HOLY COW ELMER ISN'T THAT WATERSKIING SQUIRREL SO GOSH DURNED FUNNY?!?!"